Crimson Takes the Ice Against McGill

Game OnThe Harvard men's hockey team skates competitively for the
first time in 2009-10, hosting an exhibition game Friday at 7 p.m.
against McGill in the Crimson's final tuneup before traveling to
Dartmouth Oct. 30 to start its 110th regular season. Admission is
free.

Follow From HomeFans can follow the action from home with free live audio and live statistics from
GoCrimson.com. WHRB FM's Tom Brennan and Brendan Roche will have
the call. Beginning with the Nov. 20 home opener, GoCrimson.com and
Stretch Internet will be providing live video via pay-per-view and
season subscription.

Getting GoingThe Crimson has reached the title game of the ECAC Hockey
championship in six of the last eight years and finished the
2008-09 regular season with a six-game unbeaten run that included
wins over Ivy League rivals Cornell and Princeton, both ranked
sixth in the nation. Harvard compiled a 9-7-6 record in ECAC play,
ending the season tied for fifth with Dartmouth.

Returning Statistical LeadersSenior Doug Rogers led the Crimson offense last season
with 21 points and is the team's top active scorer with 77 points
(28 goals, 49 assists). Senior captain Alex Biega became the first
defenseman in more than two decades to lead Harvard in assists (16)
and ranked second among ECAC defensemen in scoring (three goals, 13
assists). The Crimson welcomes back its top seven scorers and four
defensemen who skated in at least 30 of the team's 31 games.

In goal, Ryan Carroll played a large role in the Crimson's
success at the end of last season, allowing two or fewer goals in
seven of his nine starts. Junior Kyle Richter returns to the
Crimson as well. In his 2007-08 campaign, Richter was awarded the
Dryden Award as ECAC Hockey's top goaltender after leading the
league in goals-against average (1.82) and save percentage (.935).
He set Harvard records for games played and starts (34) as well as
minutes played (2,023).

Preseason PrognosticationsThe ECAC Hockey coaches picked Harvard to finish fourth in
the preseason conference poll and voted senior defensemen Alex
Biega to the preseason all-conference team. Biega was named to the
Inside College Hockey (INCH) preseason All-America third team and
freshman Louis Leblanc was named to the all-rookie squad. INCH
recognized the Crimson rookies as the nation's No. 5 freshman
class.

Scouting McGillMcGill has opened up its season with a 2-0 record,
defeating Concordia, 5-2, and Queen's, 5-1. In the first Canadian
Interuniversity Sport (CIS) top-10 poll of the 2009-10 season, the
team is ranked eighth. After Harvard, McGill travels to Dartmouth
before returning home to McConnell Arena to take on Queen's for the
second time this season. Guillaume Doucet and Francis
Verreault-Parent lead the team with two goals a piece. Alexandre
Picard-Hooper has four assists on the season.

Coming AttractionsThe Crimson opens the regular season a week from today at
Dartmouth. Harvard kicks off its home schedule Nov. 20 against St.
Lawrence.